Pedaling for Habitat for Humanity

Williston lies on a major bike route so it's not uncommon to see a group of riders from across the country roll through town. The latest group to pass through however was not the typical cyclist group.

Rolling into Williston Tuesday, and out Thursday, were three women, all over age 50, riding self-contained and riding to raise $60,000 for Habitat for Humanity.

Pam Culbertson, a 53-year-old from Warrensburg, Mo., organized the fundraising ride in memory of her uncle Tom Scheffer, who died of bone cancer.

"He was a great uncle and a wonderful man who was very much involved with Habitat for Humanity," Culbertson said.

The money raised from this trip will go towards building a new home through Habitat for Humanity in Johnson County, Mo. In 2004 Culbertson and a friend rode from Florida to California, raising $32,000 for the same charity. Culbertson decided she wanted to do another ride to raise more money and put out an ad in Adventure Cycling Magazine searching for companions.

Answering that ad were Carol Kaufman of Kansas, age 64, and Barbara Torres of California, age 58. Although they've only known each other for one month, the experience of biking across country has brought them close enough to be lifetime friends.

"They're an awesome group," Culbertson said. "We've had a lot of fun together. We tease each other and laugh and cut up."

"We're all of a certain age so we've had life experiences we can draw on," said Torres.

"And there are no whiners," added Kaufman with a laugh.

For their coast-to-coast bike trip there's simply no time or place for whining as the three women travel an average of 60 miles a day through rain, wind and cold weather. North Dakota welcomed the women in traditional fashion with a 25-30 mph headwind Tuesday afternoon.

"Williston was a very, very welcome site Tuesday," said Torres. "This was our most difficult ride since we left on May 16, because of the headwinds. And we've done mountains, we've done rain, we've done cold."

Despite the unwelcoming winds the women enjoyed their two night stopover in Williston. Doug and Anna Hoffman opened their house to the cyclists and took them to see Fort Buford and the Missouri-Yellowstone Confluence Interpretive Center Wednesday.

"We've been treated royally by the people we've met," Culbertson said. "And we've heard from other cyclists that have been here before us that North Dakota people are very friendly."

Besides the people they're meeting, all the women are enjoying the scenery around them.

"The scenery is gorgeous," Torres exclaimed. "We're realizing what a huge country it is. We've seen the mountains and now we're into the prairie and they both have a lot to offer."

"You get to see so much more on a bike than you do on a car," added Culbertson.

The ladies are making their Ride 4 Habitat unsupported, which means they carry everything they need on their bikes. Each bike is loaded with 20-30 pounds of belongings. Culbertson said when packing for a bike trip "you find out what you need and don't need in life." Well, at least some people do. Torres packed lipstick but not deodorant...her reasoning? "The pictures don't smell."

The women started their trip May 16 in Washington and will finish towards the end of July in Maine. They have biked more than 1300 miles so far and estimate they have about 3000 to go.

"We're pretty much homeless for the next two months," said Culbertson.

"That's probably the most difficult thing is leaving families," Kaufman said. "but we've got ways to communicate with them."

The three ladies will be traveling into Canada and visiting Niagara Falls before concluding the trip in Maine. Once reaching their destination they'll part ways and find flights back home.

"We're gonna have a more modern means of transportation to get back home," Kaufman said with a laugh.

For more information on the Ride 4 Habitat visit www.ride4habitat.org. Donations can be made on the Web site or by sending a check to "Habitat for Humanity of Johnson County, MO, 123 East Gay Street, Suite E3, Warrensburg, MO 64093." Please indicate that your donation is for the Ride4Habitat.